Talk the Talk
Backgammon Glossary
Need to know your Crawford from your Jacoby? Have no clue what a beaver is? Our backgammon glossary lets you speak like a pro in no time...
Accept a Double: When one player agrees to continue playing the game, the value of which is now at twice the previous stake, after his opponent offers a double. After accepting a double the player retains control of the doubling dice.
Ace: A die that shows number 1.
Ace-Point: Another name for the one point.
Acey-Deucey: A roll of 2 and 1.
Air Ball: A very unlucky roll.
Anchor: A point, in your opponent's inner board that has two or more of your chequers on it.
Attacking Game: A very offensive strategy, also known as a blitz.
Automatic Doubles: An optional rule in cash play (not used in Ladbrokes Backgammon). If used, when both players roll the same number on the opening roll of a game, the stakes are automatically doubled. This is the same as turning the doubling cube over.
Back Game: The back game, or backgame, is a strategy that can be used when a player is behind in the race. A player can leave two or more chequers in his opponents home board/inner board for as long as possible in order to hit his opponent when they inevitably leave a blot. If their timing is right they can block off this hit blot in their home board and win the game.
- A board game played with dice and chequers. The board contains 24 points in four quarters. The game is essentially a obstacle race, the first player who removes all his chequers from the board is the winner.
- If you remove (bears off) all of your chequers, and win the game, before your opponent has not only removed any of their checkers but also still has a chequer in your inner board (or on the bar), you win the game by a backgammon. This is very rare and pays three times the value of the doubling cube. (see Gammon)
Backgammon Board: A backgammon board can be made out of any material. Originally made from stone and marble the backgammon board is now available in most materials, from mahogany to plastic. Different parts of the world play with notably different board. Boards around the Mediterranean tend to have no fabric for example, while leather and felt normally can cover the surfaces of boards in the UK. The cost of a backgammon board can range from a few pennies to tens of thousands of pounds.
Each board consists of four quadrants and a bar at the centre that divides the board into two. There are 24 points (long triangles) found on the board, with 6 in each quadrant. Many boards also contain a tray to easily hold the chequers when the game is over. This is not part of the active game board.
Backgammon Server: A computer on the internet that enables people from across the world to play internet backgammon together. The server is essentially a virtual backgammon room, providing tables and dice for the players, while also acting as a intermediary for backgammon betting. People interact with the server by downloading software to their computer or using a web based server.
Back man / Back men: The chequer(s) furthest away from your ace point.
Bar Point: This is your 7 point and the second most important point to block after the golden point.
Bar: The ridge down the centre of the board dividing each players inner board and outer board. When a chequer is hit it is placed on the bar.
Bear In: Moving a chequer into your home board, before bearing off.
Bear off: The practice of removing your checkers from the board towards the end of the game.
Beaver: This is a rule agreed upon by both players prior to the game starting. This rule allows a player who has been doubled the chance to immediately redouble. The player who beavers retains possession of the cube. Generally this means the opponent believes the first double was made in error.
Blitz:
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• A very offensive strategy, also known as a blitz. A player attempts to quickly gain an advantage by attacking his opponent's blots in his home board the aim being to put his opponent off balance, close out and win the game.
Blot: A single checker on a point that is exposed to a hit.
Blunder: A massive error either in chequer play or cube play.
Cash game: A cash game is played between two players with an agreed stake per point and a maximum limit agreed. Each time the cube is used to double, so will the stakes in the game. Winning a gammon pays double or winning by backgammon triples your winnings.
Crawford: John R. Crawford was a legendary backgammon and contract bridge player who invented the rule that bears his name. The Crawford rule has become a standard in backgammon match play. Read more about Crawford
Crawford Rule: This is a rule that is used in Match play and tournament play. When playing with this rule (highly recommended) the use of the doubling cube is disabled (for just one game) when one player is within one game of winning.
For example, a player is winning 4-0 in a “best of 7” match (first to 5). As the player is only 1 game away from winning his 5th game (and the match) the doubling cube cannot be used. If the player should fail to win this next game then the match will continue and the doubling cube can be used once again. Gammons and backgammons still count in a Crawford game. This rule is beneficial because it makes the match fairer to the player in the lead.
Double: When a player offers their opponent the doubling cube during a game (this may only be done before the player rolls their dice). If the player accepts the double they take ownership of the cube and the game continues at twice the original stake. If a player refuses the double, the game is forfeited at the original (undoubled) stakes.
Doubling Cube/Dice: Invented somewhere in New York City in 1926, the doubling cube revolutionised the game of backgammon. It is normally a larger, six-sided die marked with the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64. The doubling cube shows the current stakes of the game and its position on the on the board indicates ownership of the doubling cube. It is used to tell the current stake of the game.
Enter or Re-enter: To move a checker that has been hit from the bar to an open point in your opponents inner board, bringing it back into play. If you are unable to re-enter you forfeit your turn.
Gammon: If a game ends and one player that has not borne off any checkers they will lose twice the value shown on the doubling cube, and is said to have been gammoned.
Hit: To land on an opponents blot sending the checker to the bar.
Home board: The quadrant on the board numbered 1 where a player bears off their checkers off to their tray.
Jacoby:Oswald Jacoby was an American bridge player, considered to be the greatest of all time. He also co-wrote The Backgammon Book with Crawford, and also inventing the Jacoby Rule. Read about Oswald Jacoby
Jacoby Rule: This is a popular rule in backgammon money game play which states that gammons and backgammons only count if a player has offered the doubling cube during the game. The rule considerably speeds up play and is recommended.
Match play: A series of games between two players that finishes when one of the players reaches the pre-agreed number of points. Best of 5 is an example of match play.
Pip: Simply put, this is one spot on a die. This is also the distance of one point on the backgammon board.
Pip count: This is the total number of points needed to bear off all fifteen of your checkers at any given time during the game. To get a pip count you multiply the number of checkers on each point by the number of the point and add the totals together. At the start of the game your pip count is 167. While a lower pip count is generally favourable it does not tell you anything about your timing or positioning.
Point: One of the 24 triangles on the board that make up the backgammon board. Points alternate in colour, are numbered 1 to 24 and grouped into four quadrants of six points each. These are called your inner board, outer board and your opponent's inner and outer boards. A point is also the unit of score in match play games.
Rating: This is your rating based on all previous game play. Please note this is for guidance only and it is possible it can be manipulated. Any player found doing so deliberately will have their account terminated.
Redouble: This is any double made after the first double. Only the owner of the cube can redouble.
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